Beware City Power fraudsters

City Power says it has picked up information about a group of fraudsters posing as City Power employees to rob customers.

“The modus operandi used by three males pretending to be City Power employees have swindled customers out of money under false pretense of an unpaid electricity bill, even though the customer might be on prepaid meter.

“The fraudsters have reportedly threatened to cut off power supply to residents who refuse to pay phantom electricity bills,” the power company said in a statement on Wednesday.

The energy utility appealed to all its customers not to make any cash payments to contractors or officials requesting money for outstanding electricity bills, instead customers are encouraged to only make payments at the City of Johannesburg customer walk in centers or at the utility’s offices.

“Under no circumstances should a customer make payment to a City Power official or contractor at their property,” it said.

During the launch of ‘Operation Clean-Up’ earlier in the year City Power’s Board Chairman, Reverend Frank Chikane, urged customers to report criminal incidents or corrupt behavior on the part of officials and contractors of City Power.

To date 851 cases have been registered with SAPS and the prosecuting authorities relating to cable theft, malicious damage to property and meters including domestic and Large Power Users. As much as 782 arrests have been made with 274 cases that have already been convicted.